IT PAYS TO GO THAT EXTRA YARD

PAUL FURLONG has never forgotten humble roots carved meticulously in our Non-League world.

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Celebrating his 55th birthday last week, the former striker mustered prolific goals coring fortunes at the likes of Coventry City, Watford, Chelsea, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers. Yet he is eternally grateful to Enfield FC for launching his career as a teenager.

I chatted to Furlong this week and captured an array of vivid recollections on starting a life pathway in football.

“I was 18 when I got released from the QPR youth squad,” he explained. “Nevertheless, I had a few mates playing for Enfield. So I tagged along with those lads for a trial where I participated in some training sessions. I ended up turning out for Enfield’s youth team and occasionally for the reserves.

“A coach named Nigel did a fantastic job. Often for away games, he would make two or three trips in his Ford Escort van to ferry all of our players there ready for kick-off. People like him went out of their way to help develop the aspiring youngsters at Enfield. Incredible commitment overall from club volunteers.

“At the same time, I was working for a company called Standard Telephones and Cables based in New Southgate. They made telephone components. All of a sudden, I received a call during the close season from Enfield’s first team manager Eddie McCluskey. He said he wanted to sign me.